To celebrate the arrival of Spring, our annual Warburton in Springtime Ride. Two years ago some horses were so excited to see our beautiful Vespas that they galloped along beside us. I think it was in slow motion too with cherry blossoms fluttering down through the spring sunshine, but then I may have been 'high' on two stroke fumes.
Destination
Warburton is an attractive country town nestled between mountains in the upper valley of the Yarra River 75 Kms East of Melbourne. In days gone by grand guest houses provided a retreat in fresh mountain air as an escape from the grimy city. The town still retains its health resort reputation. Pretty houses with wood smoke drifting from their chimneys set in lovely English gardens make Warby a very picturesque town. In the old days steam trains used to bring in flour for the Sanitarium Health Food Factory. A new factory was built in 1936 and is considered a modernist gem.
Ride Description
Except for a few kilometers the route avoids highways making it perfect for smaller capacity engines or slower geared classic Vespas. It will be a lazy meandering ride on some delightful little-used back roads that wind through picturesque rural scenery. Mountains form a constant backdrop to rolling pastoral landscapes, farmhouses, vineyards, orchards, creeks and rivers. At times our road provides an intimate experience where the forest canopy cocoons us, at others it presents an open vista as grand as a Wagner Opera. These are great roads for two wheels and for those who enjoy curves and the unfolding narrative of a winding road.
Coffee-Lunch Breaks
We'll have a 30 minute coffee break and bottom rub in Warburton before heading up to the summit of Mt Donna Buang (1250 metres) which looms behind the township - the closest snowfield to Melbourne. On the way up we'll stop by the Rainforest Gallery and Skywalk Gallery which juts out amongst the tree tops 17 metres above the lush forest floor. There is a beautiful 15-20 minute walk among the fern trees. On the summit of Donna Buang a spectacular view can be had from a very tall (21 metre) vertigo-inducing observation tower. On a clear day you can see the skyline of Melbourne to the West across the Yarra Valley. Lunch will be back at Warburton but we will all fuel up beforehand at the only service station in the town. Behind the row of old timber shops in the main street there is a delightful picnic spot along the banks of the Yarra where we'll find rocks, dogs, ducks and kids splashing in the waters of the Yarra. There's an the old wooden suspension bridge close by and paths for a river walk. On the way back to the inner suburbs, we'll stop for a farewell coffee at Mailing Road, Canterbury in the ambience of its 1930-40s streetscape.
Route
The route to Warburton is via Park Orchards, Wonga Park, Coldstream and Woori Yallock. Yes, naughtiness will overcome me yet again and we'll ride that little pedestrian bridge - just for old time's sake. We'll return via Yellingbo, Wandin East and Mount Evelyn where hopefully the orchard fruit trees will be in full bloom. The round trip totals about 209kms. Excluding breaks it takes about 2.5 hours each way traveling at a sedate 'classic' speed. The ride ends around 4.30pm.
Departure Point
The ride departs from the east, 9am sharp at Britannia Mall, Mitcham. Come earlier if you want coffee and breakfast beforehand. See instructions below. Please arrive with a full tank of fuel.
Comments
Thanks to David and everyone for a great ride. Always have a great time,
Welcome Alex and your silver steed
Thanks Josh for bringing up the rear
And to all the others ...
Great to catch up and ride
Thank you :) xx
A reminder to everybody to arrive in Mitcham with a full tank of fuel as we won't be stopping until Warby. There is a BP service station on the left in Blackburn just before Maroondah Hwy divides. Otherwise a Shell station on the southwest corner of Springvale and Maroondah Hwy. See you all tomorrow, David
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